🔗 Share this article

A extended cruise circling the Land Down Under has been cancelled following the death of an elderly woman who was abandoned by the cruise liner on a remote island.

Suzanne Rees had been trekking on Lizard Island with other travelers from the cruise ship, but separated from the excursion for a rest. The liner departed without her and came back several hours later after the personnel became aware the passenger was unaccounted for.

An extensive hunt located her body the following day.

Officials are examining the incident, in coordination with police and the state coroner.

The CEO of the voyage organizer said that travelers and crew on the vessel were told that the continuation of the journey had been terminated due to the "unfortunate death and previous mechanical issues".

Through an announcement, he mentioned that guests would be provided a complete reimbursement, and said the operator was working "to organize the homeward trips of the travelers via specially arranged planes".

Authorities also released an latest communication, and said they had "issued a notice to the Commander" preventing any additional guests from boarding the liner.

The representative said that they would inspect the vessel in Cairns upon its coming back.

Sequence of Events

The vessel initially left Cairns on the 24th of October, and was only 48 hours into the expedition at the time of the 80-year-old's demise. Lizard Island was the opening port on the journey.

Passengers on board - who typically pay tens of thousands of dollars to join the voyage - were transported there for a daily excursion with the option of trekking or snorkelling.

Family Statement

The daughter of the victim said that her loved ones was "surprised and saddened that the vessel left the location after an planned tour without my mother".

Via her announcement, she described her mum as an "active octogenarian" who was a member of a hiking group.

"Based on limited details we have been told, it appears that there was a lapse of responsibility and basic judgment," she mentioned.

She further stated that she wished the examination would be able to determine what "the company should have undertaken that might have protected Mum's being".

"We understand from the authorities that it was a very hot day, and she fell ill on the mountain ascent," she explained.

"She was asked her to head down, without accompaniment. Then the boat left, reportedly without doing a roll call.

"At some stage in that sequence, or shortly after, mum died, by herself."

Company Position

Via official communication, the CEO confirmed that the operator was "cooperating fully with officials to aid their inquiry".

He said that the organization was "extremely apologetic that this has transpired" and had offered its complete assistance to the relatives.

Maritime Business Practices

The liner accommodates up to a hundred twenty travelers with forty-six personnel, according to corporate information. It was purpose-built to reach distant locations of Australia's coastline and is fitted with "auxiliary vessels" - compact vessels used to take travelers on land visits.

Incidents of this nature are uncommon, and passenger vessels have protocols to track which travelers are embarking or leaving, according to travel authorities.

"Going ashore secretly or [back] onboard simply isn't an possibility," an authority commented.

Cruise lines regard these processes with great importance and have "advanced technology in place to stop such events from occurring," the authority further stated.

"This appears to be most likely a surprising - and sad - isolated incident."